# Retinopathy of prematurity and neurodevelopmental outcome and quality of life at 10 years of age

## TL;DR

This study found that severe visual impairment in children born extremely preterm is linked to worse neurodevelopmental outcomes and lower quality of life at age 10, but not the severity of retinopathy of prematurity itself.

## Contribution

The study clarifies that visual impairment severity—not ROP severity—impacts long-term neurodevelopment and quality of life in extremely preterm children.

## Key findings

- Severe visual impairment was associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 10 years of age.
- Both severe ROP and visual impairment were linked to lower quality of life.
- After adjusting for confounders, only the association with lower quality of life remained significant.

## Abstract

In a cohort of 10-year-old children born extremely preterm, we evaluated the hypothesis that increasing severity of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is associated with increasing frequency of unfavorable neurodevelopmental and quality of life outcomes.

Study participants were classified according to the severity of ROP. At 10 years of age, their neurocognitive abilities, academic achievement, and gross motor function were assessed, and they were evaluated for autism spectrum disorder, anxiety, depression, and quality of life.

After adjustment for sample attrition and confounders, only the association with lower quality of life persisted. Increasing severity of visual impairment was associated with worse neurodevelopmental outcomes and lower quality of life.

Among extremely preterm children, severity of visual impairment, but not severity of ROP, was associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes at 10 years of age. Both severe ROP and more severe visual impairment were associated with lower quality of life.

Among children born extremely preterm, increased severity of retinopathy of prematurity was not associated with less optimal neurodevelopmental outcomes but was associated with less optimal quality of life.